Housing Benefit

Housing allowance is called in Germany receive the power of the state to citizens, because of their low income an allowance for rent ( rent subsidy ) or the cost of owner-occupied housing ( Lastenzuschuss ). The statutory provisions governing the award of housing benefit ( housing benefits law - WOGG - and others) are specially designed as parts of the Social Code (§ 68 No. 10 SGB I). Colloquially, occasionally, the monthly HOA fee, the pay home owners for the management and maintenance of community property to the administrator, referred to as " housing allowance ."

Information on housing benefit application

Housing Benefit is for economic hedging appropriate and family-oriented housing as " housing subsidy " for tenants of housing and the "last grant " for owner of your own home or an owner-occupied condominium granted with effect from the first of the month of application ( whichever is the entry stamp from the housing benefit authority ). Housing allowance is granted usually for twelve months. Are not eligible single Erstauszubildende.

The amount of the housing allowance is calculated acc. § 19 WOGG the following sizes:

Number of family members who belong to the household
Family income
To be considered rent or burden ( beyond reasonable housing costs are not included )

The housing allowance shall examine whether the income figures are credible. This is undoubtedly the case when all the revenue available to household, including the anticipated housing benefit and regardless of whether the revenue housing benefit constitute legal income, sufficient to cover the expenses of the household. In apparent low standard of living for determining the expenditure side is often resorted to the social welfare legal requirements.

The following forms are required and are available at the local authority housing benefit:

Application for housing benefit
Certificate of the lessor ( composition of the rent, apartment size)
Additional observations on the application for housing benefit

In Lastenzuschuss a debt certificate issued by the banks is needed.

Housing allowance for pupils, students and trainees

Life students, trainees or students alone in a household or is the whole household only from students, trainees and students ( for example, two students in partnership), there is usually a legislative competition with the federal financial aid. You will receive housing benefit only if you " on the merits " is not afforded federal financial aid. This is among other things for too long period of study the case, but not at too high a private income (eg cooperative education ) or high-income parents. The same applies to trainees who are " on the merits " entitled to benefits under § 59 SGB III ( vocational training allowance - BAB ) have.

Through the financial construct claim so made, for example in the following cases:

A single student living with her child. The child is then usually social money and is excluded from housing benefit. Because for the examination of competition laws, the entire household is considered and the child does not comply eligible training even after the federal financial aid, the mother can receive housing benefit.
A student married to a student. She loses her claim federal financial aid because of a field of study change. Both are entitled to housing benefit as the total budget.
A foreign student with no long -term residence permit can in principle receive no federal financial aid. He is therefore entitled to housing benefit. However, the use of housing benefit mean that his residence permit will not be renewed at the next examination.

Whether training promotion entitled basically after, must consider the housing benefit authority first. Only if there are doubts, the body responsible for student financial aid office provides administrative assistance. Apprentices and students should not be forced to make an application for student financial aid itself.

Housing benefit recipients

At the end of 2012, based in Germany, approximately 783 000 households housing allowances (2011: 903,000 households), which were 1.9% (2011: 2.2% ) of all households ( source:. Federal Statistical Office). Total expenditure on housing benefits amounted in 2012 nationwide about 1.2 billion euros, compared to 2011, the Housing Benefit expenditure declined by 21%. The average monthly housing benefit claim was 114 euros.

Since the entry into force of the Fourth Act for Modern Services on the Labour Market ( " Hartz IV" ) and the associated changes to housing benefit legal provisions at 1 January 2005 is waived for recipients of government transfer payments (such as unemployment benefits, social assistance, assistance for livelihood, basic security in old age and in disability, asylum seekers benefits) as well as members of their community needs, housing allowances. The reasonable accommodation costs of the recipients of these transfers have since been taken into account under the relevant social services, so that there are no disadvantages for the individual beneficiaries.

Note also the entitlement to housing benefit as so-called " priority performance " before the ALG II claim, if so, the need for help according to SGB II can be eliminated ( § 12a SGB II). This can, for example, with certain combinations of low ALG I- claim (where applicable and child supplement ) occur. The support of basic security then refer generally to the housing benefit authorities and can also use the application, if necessary, enforce or alternatively make even against the will of the person concerned.

Rent levels

The Miethöchstbeträge are staggered six rent levels. The rent levels one and two are below the national average of rents, the rent level three reflects the average, and the rent levels four to six are above the national average. More on the relevant website responsible for the Housing Ministry.

Amendment from 2009

Through an amendment to the Housing Benefit Act, the average housing allowance has increased from 1 January 2009 of 90 euros to 140 euros per month. This was done by performance improvements. In particular, by:

The summary of Baualtersklassen on new rent level,
Increasing the Miethöchstbeträge by 10% and
The increase of the table values by 8%.

The drafting of § 21 (where the use would be improper, in particular because of substantial assets) the grounds for refusal were made more precise so that, for example, assets in the assessment must be taken into consideration that bring the applicant little or no interest income.

The new housing benefit will benefit about 800,000 households. The costs of about 520 million euro share federal and state governments.

Changes to the Housing Benefit Act from January 1, 2011

The imported under the housing benefit amendment 2009 heating component was (see Federal Law Gazette 2010, Part I, No. 63) again abolished with effect from 1 January 2011 due to Article 22 of the Budget Support Act of 2011. The federal government had justified the cancellation, with lower energy costs.

After tough political negotiations Bundestag and the Bundesrat have introduced in spring 2011 as part of the so-called " Hartz IV reform " also benefits to education and participation. The children in housing benefit households benefit from this educational package.

Changes to the Housing Benefit Act 1 January 2013

Due to the changes in the Housing Benefit Act 1 January 2013 came a major change for the protection of abuse of social benefits. With update of § 33 para 5 WOGG the automated data matching was introduced under the authorities to prevent illegal use.

In practice, this means that the housing allowance points can automatically synchronize data with other social service providers, which was where related housing allowance for the periods are relevant. Through the comparison of personal data in an automated process, applicants are instructed in the housing benefit application.

This is especially true for

Benefits under the Social Code II: unemployment benefit II and social allowance
Benefits under SGB XII: Help for subsistence ( welfare) and basic security in old age and disability

If the terms of welfare for the reimbursement of the cost for property ROCHE.

The housing benefit office may also be reviewed in detail:

Whether the members of a household still refer housing allowance, even though he no longer resides in the corresponding flat
Was whether the housing benefit already obtained or requested
Whether in the claim period was a social insurance or marginal employment or in respect of
Whether services are obtained from a pension or accident insurance
Whether and to what extent there are any income from capital assets
Whether unemployment compensation or other benefits from the Employment Agency be availed

Criticism

According to some economists, the housing allowance as a social benefit is now superfluous, as it is in competition with basic security services. Both the housing allowance as well as with the basic security that sociopolitical aims to enable low-income households adequate accommodation. However, the existence of two social benefits with the same objective in their view leads to adverse duplicate structures in the administrative apparatus.

Compared to other countries

Housing Benefit is also available in some other countries of the European Union. For example, housing benefit is paid after a reasoned request in the UK.

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